Bushing cleaner systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A cargo management system is provided comprising a cargo shuttle having a slide bushing opposite a top surface, a drive pulley; and a sweeping belt coupled to the drive pulley. Also disclosed is a slide bushing supported cargo shuttle comprising a housing, a bushing slide plate extendable from the housing, a top surface; a drive pulley; and a sweeping belt coupled to the drive pulley. An interior surface of the sweeping belt is configured to interface with an outer diameter surface of the drive pulley and an outer surface of the sweeping belt comprises raised surfaces.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to cleaning systems, and morespecifically, to cleaning systems employing a sweeping motion.

BACKGROUND

Conventional aircraft cargo systems typically include various tracks androllers that span the length of an aircraft. Power drive units (“PDUs”)convey cargo forward and aft along the aircraft on conveyance rollerswhich are attached to the aircraft floor structure. Cargo may be loadedfrom an aft position on an aircraft and conducted by the cargo system toa forward position and/or, depending upon aircraft configuration, cargomay be loaded from a forward position on an aircraft and conducted bythe cargo system to an aft position. Conventional systems are typicallydesigned to accommodate a particular pallet size. Conventional systemsare typically comprised of numerous components that may be timeconsuming to install, replace and maintain.

SUMMARY

The features and elements described herein may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise.These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will becomemore apparent in light of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings. It should be understood, however, the following descriptionand drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

A cargo management system is provided comprising a cargo shuttle havinga slide bushing opposite a top surface, a drive pulley; and a sweepingbelt coupled to the drive pulley. Also disclosed is a slide bushingsupported cargo shuttle comprising a housing, a bushing slide plateextendable from the housing, a top surface; a drive pulley; and asweeping belt coupled to the drive pulley. An interior surface of thesweeping belt is configured to interface with an outer diameter surfaceof the drive pulley and an outer surface of the sweeping belt comprisesraised surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may bestbe obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims whenconsidered in connection with the drawing figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a cargo management system, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a cargo management system, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a cargo management system, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates the underside of a shuttle guide assembly, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial side cut-away view of shuttle guideassembly, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a partial side cut-away view of shuttleguide assembly, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a bushing cleaner system, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a close-up view of the bushing cleaner of FIG. 7, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 9A illustrates a close-up view of a drive pulley and sweeping beltof the bushing cleaner of FIGS. 7 and 8, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 9B illustrates a close-up view of a drive pulley and sweeping belthaving a sawtooth configuration, in accordance with various embodiments;and

FIG. 10 illustrates the underside of a shuttle guide assembly, inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way ofillustration. While these various embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice thedisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, thedetailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustrationonly and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of themethod or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are notnecessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any referenceto singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more thanone component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also,any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may includepermanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any otherpossible attachment option.

As used herein, “aft” refers to the direction associated with the tailof an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of exhaust of the gasturbine. As used herein, “forward” refers to the direction associatedwith the nose of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of flightor motion.

Aircraft cargo management systems as disclosed herein allow cargo to beloaded into an aircraft and positioned within the aircraft in a simple,elegant manner. In that regard, aircraft cargo management systems asdisclosed herein may reduce part count and associated replacement/wearcosts over time.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 aircraft cargo management system 100 isillustrated using an x, y, and z axes for ease of illustration. Cargoshuttle 114 and 116 are shown forward of an aft portion of an aircraft.Cargo shuttle 114 and 116 may be a slide bushing supported cargoshuttle. Cargo shuttle 114 is coupled to aft drive shuttle belt 106 andcargo shuttle 116 is coupled to aft drive shuttle belt 108. Aft driveshuttle belt 106 is coupled to aft shuttle drive unit 102. Aft driveshuttle belt 108 is coupled to aft shuttle drive unit 104. Floor panel112 is shown beneath cargo shuttle 114. Floor panel 150 is shown beneathcargo shuttle 116. As used with respect to cargo shuttle 114 and 116,the term “beneath” may refer to the negative z direction. Support rails222 and 224 are shown laterally adjacent to floor panels 112 and 150.Support rails 222 and 224 may be mounted to another aircraft component,such as an airframe, and may be capable of supporting the weight ofcargo 201. Cargo shuttle may comprise a housing 210. Cargo shuttle 114and 116 may comprise a top surface 214 and 216 respectively.

According various embodiments, top surface 214 and 216 may compriseconveyance rollers such as a power drive unit 308 and roller 306 (withbrief reference to FIG. 5) mounted to it to allow cargo to be pulledonto and off of the cargo shuttle. Top surface 214 and 216 may befriction resistant, such as via surface features and/or applied coating.Floor panel 112 may comprise at least one of a composite material or ametallic material.

Cargo shuttle 114 is coupled to forward drive shuttle belt 208 and cargoshuttle 116 is coupled to forward drive shuttle belt 218. Forward driveshuttle belt 208 is coupled to forward shuttle drive unit 204. Forwarddrive shuttle belt 218 is coupled to forward shuttle drive unit 220.Cargo 202 is shown as resting on support rails 222 and cargo 201 isshown as resting on support rails 224. Cargo shuttle 116 may be used tolift cargo 201 off support rails 224 and move cargo 201 forward or aft.

Forward drive shuttle belt 208, forward drive shuttle belt 218, aftdrive shuttle belt 106, and aft drive shuttle belt 108 (collectively, a“shuttle belt”) may comprise any suitable belt capable of pulling acargo shuttle. For example, a shuttle belt may comprise a flat belt. Inthat regard, a flat shuttle belt may not occupy excess space along the zdirection. For example, a shuttle belt may comprise a polyurethanecoated belt that includes a communications and power bus. In thatregard, the structural support and power/data functions are provided bya single shuttle belt structure. For example, in various embodiments, ashuttle belt may comprise steel wires oriented in parallel and coatedwith polyurethane to hold the steel wires together, provideanti-friction properties, and noise dampening properties. Among thesteel wires may be copper wires or other wires that are capable ofcarrying an electrical current at any suitable voltage. In that regard,the shuttle belt may comprise one or more copper wires to carry highvoltage power and/or low voltage electrical signals that may conveydata.

The shuttle belts may be wound around a portion of forward shuttle driveunit 204, forward shuttle drive unit 220, aft shuttle drive unit 102 andaft shuttle drive unit 104 (collectively, “shuttle drive unit”). In thatregard, a shuttle drive unit may comprise a cylindrical structure (e.g.,a bobbin) to which a shuttle belt is affixed. The shuttle drive unitcomprises a motive device, such as an electric motor, to rotate thebobbin in a desired direction. The shuttle drive unit may be geared insuch a manner so that free rotation of the bobbin is allowed and/or suchthat low resistance to free motion is produced. This resistive force maybe supplied by a brake and/or be supplied by the motor providing anegative torque to the gear system, thereby regenerating power, whichmay be added back to the aircraft power bus. Thus, as forward shuttledrive unit 204 may be rotating its bobbin to pull forward drive shuttlebelt 208 forward, aft shuttle drive unit 102 may allow its bobbin tofreely rotate in response to the force exerted by forward drive shuttlebelt 208 through cargo shuttle 114. In like manner, as aft shuttle driveunit 102 may be rotating its bobbin to pull aft drive shuttle belt 106aft, forward shuttle drive unit 204 may allow its bobbin to freelyrotate in response to the force exerted by aft drive shuttle belt 106through cargo shuttle 114.

Accordingly, as forward shuttle drive unit 220 may be rotating itsbobbin to pull forward drive shuttle belt 218 forward, aft shuttle driveunit 10 may allow its bobbin to freely rotate in response to the forceexerted by aft drive shuttle belt 108 through cargo shuttle 116. In likemanner, as aft shuttle drive unit 104 may be rotating its bobbin to pullaft drive shuttle belt 108 aft, forward shuttle drive unit 220 may allowits bobbin to freely rotate in response to the force exerted by aftdrive shuttle belt 108 through cargo shuttle 116.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, cargo shuttle 114 is shown. It shouldbe understood that cargo shuttle 116 is similarly structured and thusthe features discussed herein relative to cargo shuttle 114 are alsoapplicable to cargo shuttle 116. Power drive unit 308 and roller 306 (asshown in FIG. 5) are shown in cargo shuttle 114. The top surface 214 (asshown in FIG. 2) of cargo shuttle 114 is not depicted in FIG. 3, tobetter illustrate certain aspects of the design. For instance, cargoshuttle 114 may comprise a controller 315 for directing operation of oneor more hydraulic lift systems 301. It should be appreciated that thougha hydraulic lift system 301 is disclosed herein for moving bushing slideplate 410 (with brief reference to FIG. 4), any mechanism for movingbushing slide plate 410 may be used, such as pneumatic, and/orelectronic actuator may be utilized. The hydraulic lift system 301 maycomprise a hydraulic lift actuator 350. The hydraulic lift system 301may comprise a hydraulic pipe 355 configured to supply a fluid, such asoil, to the hydraulic lift actuator 350. The hydraulic lift system 301may comprise a fluid reserve 330, such as an oil reserve, for storingfluid to be delivered via the hydraulic pipe 355. The hydraulic liftsystem 301 may comprise a fluid pump for moving fluid within thehydraulic pipe 355. The hydraulic lift actuator 350 may be coupled to abushing slide plate 410 (with reference to FIG. 4). According to variousembodiments, hydraulic lift actuator 350 may comprise a hydraulic pistonthat extends in response to hydraulic fluid pumping through thehydraulic pipe 355. The hydraulic fluid pushes the hydraulic piston down(i.e., in the negative Z direction). Stated another way, the hydraulicactuator 350 may be configured to extend the bushing slide plate 410from the cargo shuttle 114 in a first direction normal to a face of atop surface 214 of the cargo shuttle 114. Power drive unit 308 may drivecargo such as cargo 202, onto and off cargo shuttle 114. Roller 306 mayfacilitate movement of cargo 202 with respect to cargo shuttle 114.

According to various embodiments, FIG. 4 depicts the underside of cargoshuttle 114. The bushing slide plate 410 are configured to move in the(negative Z) direction with respect to the cargo shuttle 114. Bushingslide plate 410 may be made from any desired material, for instance, asteel or a hard anodized aluminum material. As depicted, one or morehydraulic lift actuators 350 may be coupled to a bushing slide plate410. Each hydraulic lift actuator 350 may be configured for independentoperation. According to various embodiments and with brief reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, a bushing 510, such as a fiber reinforced,self-lubricating polymer bushing, may be used to support the cargoshuttle 114 which supports cargo 202 (e.g., cargo containers) duringtransport within the aircraft. FIGS. 5 and 6 depict cut-away views of aportion of cargo shuttle 114. Bushings 510 may be plastic-basedbushings. For example, bushings 510 may be fiber reinforced polymerself-lubricating bushings, such as an internally lubricated,acetal-based material such as that sold under the trademark Turcite® T47which is available from Trellebord Sealing Solutions, Fort Wayne, Ind.When cargo shuttle 114 is providing lift to cargo 202 such that cargo202 is lifted from support rails 222, or when no cargo 202 is positionedon cargo shuttle 114, cargo shuttle 114 may move forward or aft, basedon tension applied to forward drive shuttle belt 208. When movingforward or aft in a lifted or cargo-less state, cargo shuttle 114 mayglide over bushings 510 without or with few other friction contactpoints counteracting the movement of cargo shuttle 114. Specifically,the bushing slide plates 410 of cargo shuttle 114 may glide overbushings 510 without or with few other friction contact pointscounteracting the movement of cargo shuttle 114. In this way, bushingslide plates 410 may be compared to a sled runner that slides across thetop of bushings 510. Bushings 510 may be coupled to the aircraft floorbeam and/or the composite floor panel 112. Cargo 202 may be pulledacross door conveyance rollers 306 and onto cargo shuttle 114 by the twoshuttle power drive units 308 (PDU) coupled to each cargo shuttle 114.According to various embodiments, the aircraft may not comprise a floor(i.e. composite floor panel 112) in its cargo hold. Thus, the bushings510 may be mounted to the aircraft structure and the cargo shuttle 114may glide across the top of the floor beams such as on the bushings 510.

The aircraft floor beams 560 are covered by a thin composite sheet, suchas floor panel 112, giving the cargo shuttle 114 operators alightweight, easily maintained surface that is also capable ofsupporting the weight of one or more adult humans. This closed floorconstruction also facilitates quick assembly times in the factory, andeasy aircraft cleaning.

Bushings 510 may be made from various materials. For instance, bushings510 may be made such as an internally lubricated, acetal-based materialsuch as that sold under the trademark Turcite, and/or a thermoplastic,coated metals such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated aluminum,etc. In response to hydraulic oil being forced through the hydraulicpiping 355 into the hydraulic lift actuator 350, the bushing slide plate410 is forced downward (i.e., in the negative Z direction) against thebushings 510. This force causes the top surface 214 of cargo shuttle 114to lift upward (i.e., in the positive Z direction), causing a cargopallet (e.g., cargo 202) to be lifted off the composite containersupport rails 222 and 224. Stated another way, in response to hydraulicoil being delivered by a hydraulic pump via the hydraulic piping 355,the volume of oil within the hydraulic lift actuator 350 is increased,forcing a portion of the lift actuator coupled to the bushing slideplate 410 to move down (i.e., in the negative Z direction) relative tothe top surface 214 of cargo shuttle 114 (See FIG. 6). In this way, thebushing slide plate 410 is extended and the top surface 214 of cargoshuttle 114 moves in the positive Z direction based on contact with atleast one of bushing 510 or floor panel 112. The cargo belt, such as theaft drive shuttle belt 106, pulls that assembly across the floor.Location sensors (not shown) such as proximity sensors housed on cargoshuttle 114 may indicate that a desired proximity of cargo shuttle 114to cargo 202 is reached and/or determined.

Moreover, data from proximity sensors may be used to detect andcompensate for uneven cargo loads. For example, in the event cargo 202shifts to one portion of cargo shuttle 114 or otherwise exerts moreforce on a portion of cargo shuttle 114 relative to another, data fromproximity sensors may detect that one portion of cargo shuttle 114 isnot as far from floor panel 112 as one or more other portions of cargoshuttle 114. In that regard, where insufficient distance from floorpanel 112 is achieved, a controller 302 may command its associatedhydraulics to increase output to compensate for the uneven load.According to various embodiments, the actuators 350 may be commanded tobe fully deployed, fully retracted or various positions in between.Actuators 350 may not be sensitive to uneven loading as hydraulicactuators may be significantly more rigid than other systems

In that regard, in operation, cargo such as cargo 202 may be loaded ontocargo shuttle 114 at an aft position, such as a position proximate aftshuttle drive unit 102. Cargo 202 may be positioned onto cargo shuttle114 using power drive unit 308 and roller 306. During loading of cargo202, cargo shuttle 114 may be in contact with floor panel 112. Oncecargo 202 is suitably positioned on top of cargo shuttle 114 (where thephrase “on top” in this context may refer to distance across thepositive z direction), a control system (e.g., controller 302) mayinstruct hydraulic actuator 304 to begin operation. After the powerdrive unit 308 brakes are set, the cargo shuttle 114 raises the cargo202 off the support rails 224. In the various embodiments, hydraulicactuators are utilized to lift cargo shuttle 114. In variousembodiments, linear, electro-mechanical, or pneumatic actuators may alsobe utilized. In response to the top surface 214 of cargo shuttle 114being lifted, the cargo shuttle 114 may be moved laterally to a desiredlocation, generally either forward or rearward, moving cargo 202 to thedesired location. Once the cargo 202 is at the desired location, thehydraulic pressure within the cargo shuttle 114 actuators will bereduced, causing the top surface 214 of cargo shuttle 114 to sink towardfloor panel 112, lowering cargo 202 onto support rails 224. In this way,the cargo 202 may lift apart from the top surface 214. Once cargo 202has been set onto the support rails 222, cargo shuttle 114 may be movedfrom under the cargo 202 back to the home position at the aircraft doorto pick up its next load. Cargo shuttle 114 may move as force is appliedto aft drive shuttle belt 106. In general, in this context the forceapplied by forward shuttle drive unit 204 is greater than aft shuttledrive unit 102. To move cargo shuttle 114 aft, more force may be appliedvia aft shuttle drive unit 102 may be greater than the force that issupplied by forward shuttle drive unit 204. Cargo shuttle 116 may moveforward and aft in the same manner. Cargo shuttle 114, specifically,bushing slide plate 410 of cargo shuttle 114, may glide over on or moresubstantially stationary bushings 510 when cargo shuttle 114 movingforward or aft. In this context, the phrase “lift apart” may refer tomovement of cargo shuttle 114 in the positive z direction.

A control system comprising, for example, a processor and a tangible,non-transitory memory may be configured to be in electrical and/orlogical communication with controller 315. For example, the controlsystem may communicate with hydraulic lift actuator 350 via one or moreshuttle belts. The control system and/or controller 315 may instruct thehydraulic lift actuator 350 to retract, extend and to modulate theoutput hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic lift system 301.

During operation of hydraulic lift actuator 350, cargo 202 may liftapart from support rails 222. While cargo 202 is lifted apart from floorpanel 112, the forward shuttle drive unit 204 may rotate its bobbin,causing forward drive shuttle belt 208 to pull cargo shuttle 114 andcargo 202 forward. Aft shuttle drive unit 102 may be allowed to exert alow level drag force on aft drive shuttle belt 106, thus allowing aftdrive shuttle belt 106 to extend in a forward direction. A low leveldrag force exerted by aft drive shuttle belt 106 may prevent excessivecargo 201 velocity and may maintain stability in the event an aircraftis not precisely level. Once cargo 202 is positioned in the aircraft ata desired position, the control system may instruct the hydraulicactuator 304 to turn off or lower the top surface 214 of cargo shuttle114. In that regard, due to loss of hydraulic pressure, the top surface214 of cargo shuttle 114 may move in a negative z direction such thatthe cargo 202 contacts and comes to rest on support rails 222. Thus, thecargo shuttle 114 e.g., the top surface 214 of cargo shuttle 114, mayseparate from the cargo 202 as the cargo 202 is restrained from motionin the negative z direction by support rails 222. In this manner, cargoshuttle 114 may be brought aft to load additional cargo 202. The aftshuttle drive unit 102 may rotate its bobbin, causing aft drive shuttlebelt 106 to pull cargo shuttle 114 aft. Additional cargo 202 may now beloaded and the process may proceed again.

According to various embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, abushing cleaner system 700 is depicted. The bushing cleaner system 700may be integrally housed on and/or coupled to a cargo shuttle, such ascargo shuttle 114 and/or cargo shuttle 116. Bushing cleaner system 700may be configured to clear dirt and/or debris from collecting on thebushing 510. Dirt and/or debris may cause premature wear on both of thesliding surfaces associated with bushing 510. Bushing cleaner system 700may be configured to sweep the bushing 510 clean before the cargoshuttle passes over the bushing 510. Stated another way, the bushingcleaner system 700 may be an automatic, pneumatic, hydraulic or electricmotor powered, sweeping system to brush dirt and debris off the fiberreinforced slide bushings 510 before the cargo shuttle 114 passes overthe bushings 510. Bushing cleaner system 700 may be configured to brushthe top surface of the bushing 510 in any desired direction. Though itmay be configured to sweep in any desired direction, such as configuredto brush debris in the direction of travel of a cargo shuttle 114according to various embodiments, bushing cleaner system 700 isconfigured to sweep the surface of bushing 510 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the aft driveshuttle belt 106 or aft drive shuttle belt 108. The direction of themovement of sweeping belt 740 may be reversible.

According to various embodiments, the bushing cleaner system 700 may bea pulley driven bushing cleaner system 700. Bushing cleaner system 700may comprise a drive motor 755, a drive pulley 710, a first idler pulley720, a second idler pulley 730 and a sweeping belt 740. Drive pulley 710may be a toothed sprocket. Drive pulley 710 may comprise a channelconfigured to drive a belt, such as sweeping belt 740. Bushing cleanersystem 700 may be positioned on and/or near a perimeter of the cargoshuttle 114. In this way, the bushing 510 may be swept prior to thebushing slide plate 410 making contact with bushing 510 (with briefreference to FIG. 5). Thus, though it may be configured to sweep anydesired width, the path of travel of sweeping belt 740 is generally atleast as wide as the surfaces of the bushing slide plate 410 and/orbushing 510 that are configured to interface.

The drive pulley 710 may be coupled to drive motor 755 to rotate drivepulley 710 and, in turn, advance sweeping belt 740 and/or rotation ofthe first idler pulley 720 and/or the second idler pulley 730. Drivemotor 755 may be powered by any suitable power transfer system. Forinstance, drive motor 755 may be powered by the same power systems thatpower operation of cargo shuttle 114. In various embodiments, drivemotor 755 may be battery powered, such as by an induction chargedbattery. The first idler pulley 720 and/or the second idler pulley 730may be configured for passive operation. In this way, the first idlerpulley 720 and/or the second idler pulley 730 are configured to act as aguide for sweeping belt 740 and place sweeping belt 740 under tension.In this way, the outer diameters of drive pulley 710, first idler pulley720 and/or second idler pulley 730 are at least partially oriented alonga common plane. First idler pulley 720 may be located between drivepulley 710 and second idler pulley 730.

According to various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 9A, thesweeping belt 740 may incorporate brushing features on its outer surfaceto help to remove dirt and/or debris from bushing 510. In this way, thesweeping belt 740 comprises both sweeping features and features toadvance the sweeping belt 740. The brushing features may comprise aplurality raised surfaces, such as raised surfaces 940, 945 separated bygaps, such as a gap 943. In this way, the gaps and/or raised surfacesmay convey dirt and/or debris from a surface of bushing 510 away fromthe surface of bushing 510. Raised surfaces may comprise rows of solidsurfaces as depicted in FIG. 9A or rows of brushing bristles. Raisedsurfaces may comprise other surface features configured to push dirtand/or debris from a surface of bushing 510. For instance and with briefreference to FIG. 9B, raised surfaces may comprise a saw tooth pattern,such as two raised V shaped portions 955 and 965 separated by a V shapedangled portion 963. The raised surfaces of the saw tooth pattern maycomprise a knife edge.

The sweeping belt 740 may comprise features configured to interface withone or more of a drive pulley 710, a first idler pulley 720, or a secondidler pulley 730. For instance, the interior diameter surface ofsweeping belt 740 may comprise belt teeth 930, 935 spaced by a gap 933configured to interface with sprocket teeth 910 of a drive pulley 710, afirst idler pulley 720, or a second idler pulley 730. For instance, thebelt teeth 930, 935 may be disposed on the internal diameter surface ofthe sweeping belt 740. Sprocket teeth 910 may be disposed on an outerdiameter surface of the drive pulley 710, the first idler pulley 720, orthe second idler pulley 730. According to various embodiments, drivepulley 710 may comprise a channel configured to house the sweeping belt740 by pressure fit (with brief reference to FIG. 9B where the internalsurface 937 of sweeping belt 740 is relatively smooth and configured tointeract with a smooth channel 911 of drive pulley 710). In this way,sprocket teeth and belt teeth are not employed. As the drive pulley 710rotates, the sweeping belt 740 advances along its path of travelrotating the first idler pulley 720 and/or the second idler pulley 730.

According to various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 10, eachcargo shuttle 114 and 116 may comprise a plurality of bushing cleanersystems 700. A cargo shuttle 114 may comprise a bushing cleaner systems700 disposed on and/or near a forward and aft perimeter. A bushingcleaner system 700 may flank each side of drive shuttle belt 106 on theforward and aft perimeter of the cargo shuttle 114. In this way, eachcargo shuttle 114 may comprise four bushing cleaner systems 700. Thisarrangement assists with sweeping clean each fiber reinforced,self-lubricating polymer bushings 510 before the cargo shuttle 114passes across them, helping to extend the durability of the slidinginterfaces.

Though bushing cleaner system 700 is described herein as being used witha belt driven cargo shuttle 114 it should be appreciated thatself-driven cargo shuttle 114 may also benefit from bushing cleanersystems 700. Moreover, though bushing cleaner system 700 is describedherein as being used with a cargo shuttle 114, the concepts describedherein are applicable to any sliding apparatus configured to slidablytravel down a friction path or track.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits,advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause anybenefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced arenot to be construed as critical, required, or essential features orelements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordinglyto be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in whichreference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one andonly one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.”Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is usedin the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to meanthat A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present inan embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that anycombination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a singleembodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts but not necessarily to denote the same or differentmaterials.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detaileddescription herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described mayinclude a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but everyembodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. After reading the description, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure inalternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the presentdisclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under theprovisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”,“comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover anon-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus.

1. A cargo management system comprising: a cargo shuttle having a slidebushing opposite a top surface; a drive pulley; and a sweeping beltcoupled to the drive pulley.
 2. The cargo management system of claim 1,further comprising a floor panel having a plurality of bushings disposedbeneath the cargo shuttle.
 3. The cargo management system of claim 2,wherein the plurality of bushings are self-lubricating polymer bushings.4. The cargo management system of claim 2, wherein the cargo shuttle isadapted to move forward or aft over the plurality of bushings.
 5. Thecargo management system of claim 4, wherein the sweeping belt is adaptedto move in a direction perpendicular to forward or aft-ward.
 6. Thecargo management system of claim 2, wherein the sweeping belt isconfigured to remove at least one of dirt or debris from a surface ofthe at least one of the plurality of bushings.
 7. The cargo managementsystem of claim 2, wherein an interior surface of the sweeping belt isconfigured to interface with an outer diameter surface of the drivepulley and an outer surface of the sweeping belt is configured tointerface with the plurality of bushings.
 8. The cargo management systemof claim 1, further comprising at least one of a first idler pulley anda second idler pulley.
 9. The cargo management system of claim 1,wherein the cargo shuttle comprises a first plurality of sweeping beltsdisposed on an aft perimeter and wherein the cargo shuttle comprises asecond plurality of sweeping belts disposed on a forward perimeter. 10.The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein a sweeping belt outersurface comprises a saw tooth pattern.
 11. A slide bushing supportedcargo shuttle comprising: a housing; a bushing slide plate, wherein thebushing slide plate is extendable from the housing; a top surface; adrive pulley; and a sweeping belt coupled to the drive pulley, whereinan interior surface of the sweeping belt is configured to interface withan outer diameter surface of the drive pulley and an outer surface ofthe sweeping belt comprises raised surfaces.
 12. The slide bushingsupported cargo shuttle of claim 11, wherein the top surface is adaptedto contact a cargo bottom surface.
 13. The slide bushing supported cargoshuttle of claim 11, wherein the bushing slide plate is configured tointeract with a plurality of bushings disposed in a floor panel beneaththe slide bushing supported cargo shuttle.
 14. The slide bushingsupported cargo shuttle of claim 13, wherein the sweeping belt isconfigured to remove at least one of dirt or debris from a surface ofthe at least one of the plurality of bushings.
 15. The slide bushingsupported cargo shuttle of claim 11, further comprising at least one ofa first idler pulley and a second idler pulley.